Connectable beverage bottle

ABSTRACT

A connectable beverage bottle include: a hollow bottle body including a central cavity and a sidewall configured with a front vertical bottle locking protrusion that is configured with a horizontal overhang and left and right outward-curving left vertical bulges; a rear vertical bottle locking indentation with left and right inward-curving vertical indentations; and a flat bottom with a laterally elongated central indentation with alternating concave and convex edge portions; such that a plurality of connectable beverage bottles are configured to be mutually interconnectable.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This U.S. Non-Provisional application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. Design application No. 29/896,967, filed Jul. 10, 2023; and is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 18/206,896, filed Jun. 7, 2023; and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/389,117, filed Jul. 14, 2022; all three of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of beverage bottles for industrial manufacturing, and more particularly to methods and systems for a connectable beverage bottle with manufacturable features.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Interlocking connectable beverage bottle designs are well-known, and offer the opportunity for improved storage density, and can therefore reduce logistics cost for transport and storage.

However, such interlocking connectable beverage bottle designs have not gained widespread use, as they have proved difficult or impossible to manufacture using both traditional and state-of-the-art bottle molding methods.

As such, considering the foregoing, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for novel and improved connectable beverage bottles that are manufacturable with state-of-the art methods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the present invention, wherein in aspects of this invention, enhancements are provided to the existing model of connectable beverage bottles in order to enable manufacturability.

In an aspect, a connectable beverage bottle can include:

-   -   a) a hollow body, including:         -   i. a bottle top, including a bottle opening, such that the             bottle opening provides access to a central cavity of the             hollow body;         -   ii. a sidewall, which forms the central cavity, wherein the             sidewall comprises:             -   1. a vertical bottle locking protrusion, which is                 positioned on a first side of the sidewall; and             -   2. a vertical bottle locking indentation, which is                 positioned on a second side of the sidewall, such that                 the vertical bottle locking indentation is opposedly                 positioned relative to the vertical bottle locking                 protrusion;         -   such that the vertical bottle locking protrusion can be             configured to be slidable into a corresponding bottle             locking indentation of a first like connectable beverage             bottle, such that the connectable beverage bottle can be             connected to the first like connectable beverage bottle; and         -   such that the vertical bottle locking indentation can be             configured to slidably receive a corresponding bottle             locking protrusion of a second like connectable beverage             bottle, such that the connectable beverage bottle can be             connected to the second like connectable beverage bottle.

In a related aspect, the vertical bottle locking indentation can be configured with a horizontal overhang from a bottom outer edge of the vertical bottle locking indentation to a top outer edge of the vertical bottle locking indentation.

In another related aspect, the bottle body further comprises:

-   -   a) a left front vertical indentation on a left side of the         vertical bottle locking protrusion, wherein the left front         vertical indentation is configured with a concave left inner         surface; and     -   b) a right front vertical indentation on a right side of the         vertical bottle locking protrusion, wherein the right front         vertical indentation is configured with a concave right inner         surface.

In a further related aspect, a left opening angle between an inner left tangent line of an inner end of the concave left inner surface and an outer left tangent line of an outer end of the concave left inner surface can be in a range of 35-45 degrees; and a right opening angle, between an inner right tangent line of an inner end of the concave right inner surface and an outer right tangent line of an outer end of the concave left inner surface, can be in a range of 35-45 degrees.

In another further related aspect, a left outward inclination angle, between a longitudinal center line of the bottle body and the inner left tangent line of the inner end of the concave left inner surface, can be in a range of 20-30 degrees; and a right outward inclination angle, between the longitudinal center line of the bottle body and the inner right tangent line of the inner end of the concave right inner surface, can be in a range of 20-30 degrees.

In yet a further related aspect, a maximum left opening width of the left front vertical indentation between the outer left transition point and the inner left transition point can be in range of 75-85% of a maximum protrusion width of the vertical bottle locking protrusion; and a maximum right opening width of the right front vertical indentation between the outer right transition point and the inner right transition point can be in range of 75-85% of the maximum protrusion width of the vertical bottle locking protrusion.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain embodiments of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodiments of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments in addition to those described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top front left perspective view of a connectable beverage bottle, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top rear right perspective view of a connectable beverage bottle, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom front left perspective view of a connectable beverage bottle, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a bottom rear right perspective view of a connectable beverage bottle, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a connectable beverage bottle, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of a connectable beverage bottle, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a left side view of a connectable beverage bottle, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a right side view of a connectable beverage bottle, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9A is a bottom view of a connectable beverage bottle, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9B is a bottom view of a connectable beverage bottle, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a top view of a connectable beverage bottle, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a connectable beverage bottle taken along section 11-11 of FIG. 10 , not showing any features of an interior of the connectable beverage bottle, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a connectable beverage bottle taken along section line 12-12 of FIG. 10 , not showing any features of the interior of the connectable beverage bottle, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a connectable beverage bottle taken along section line 13-13 of FIG. 5 , not showing any features of the interior of the connectable beverage bottle, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a connectable beverage bottle taken along section line 14-14 of FIG. 10 , not showing any features of the interior of the connectable beverage bottle, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of a connectable beverage bottle taken along section line 15-15 of FIG. 10 , not showing any features of the interior of the connectable beverage bottle, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 16A is a schematic view of a process of a vertical movement to detachably interlock two connectable beverage bottles, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 16B is a schematic view of a process of a lateral movement to detachably interlock two connectable beverage bottles, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 16C is a perspective view of three connectable beverage bottles that are interconnected, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of three connected connectable beverage bottles taken along section line 17-17 of FIG. 16C, showing an outer shell of the three connected connectable beverage bottles only, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 18A is a bottom right perspective view of a connectable beverage bottle, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 18B is a bottom left perspective view of a connectable beverage bottle, according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before describing the invention in detail, it should be observed that the present invention resides primarily in a novel and non-obvious combination of elements and process steps. So as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will readily be apparent to those skilled in the art, certain conventional elements and steps have been presented with lesser detail, while the drawings and specification describe in greater detail other elements and steps pertinent to understanding the invention.

The following embodiments are not intended to define limits as to the structure or method of the invention, but only to provide exemplary constructions. The embodiments are permissive rather than mandatory and illustrative rather than exhaustive.

In the following, we describe the structure of an embodiment of a connectable beverage bottle 100 with reference to FIG. 1 , in such manner that like reference numerals refer to like components throughout; a convention that we shall employ for the remainder of this specification. The connectable beverage bottles 100 are designed to be interlockable, such that they may save space in logistics, such as during transport, storage, and store display, thereby improving space efficiency and cost efficiency; and, in comparison to earlier designs of interlockable bottles, are designed to be manufacturable with state-of-the-art bottle manufacturing methods.

In a related embodiment, FIGS. 1-12 , shows an example of a connectable beverage bottle 100. The connectable beverage bottle 100 comprises a plurality of substantial design changes for the purpose of enabling manufacturability and improving connectability in comparison to an earlier design of an earlier connectable beverage bottle as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,472,117, issued Nov. 12, 2019; U.S. Pat. No. D941,152, issued Jan. 18, 2022; and International PCT Application Publication No. WO2019241246A1, published Dec. 19, 2019; all three of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. The earlier connectable beverage bottle was not manufacturable due to particular features of the corresponding earlier design and also did not have reliable connectability.

In a further related embodiment, compared to the earlier connectable beverage bottle, improvements to the connectable beverage bottle 100 include:

-   -   a) all the corners or hard edges of the base of the connectable         beverage bottle 100 have been rounded out completely so that the         connectable beverage bottle 100 is much easier to blow mold         during manufacturing;     -   b) the interlocking back part of the bottle, i.e. the vertical         bottle locking protrusion 126, is substantially thinner and the         opening of the bottle on the other side, i.e. the vertical         bottle locking indentation 224, where the vertical bottle         locking protrusion 126 goes in, is also correspondingly         substantially thinner, as per further specification below; and     -   c) the locking portion of the connectable beverage bottle 100,         is now only about ⅓ to ½ of the bottle height of the connectable         beverage bottle 100. In the original design of the earlier         connectable beverage bottle, the entire back side was designed         to lock into the bottle, but that original design has been found         to be impossible to manufacture with available manufacturing         methods and system.

In a related embodiment, a connectable beverage bottle 100 can include:

-   -   a) a hollow body 103, including:         -   i. a bottle top 105, including a bottle opening 115 and a             bottle interior 111, such that the bottle opening 115             provides access to a central cavity 111 for storing a             liquid;         -   ii. a bottom 107; and         -   iii. a substantially cylindrical sidewall 109, which forms             the central cavity 111 (as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 ), the             sidewall 109 tapering inward adjacent to a top of the hollow             bottle body 103 to form a tapered neck 113, which terminates             at an opening 115 for the ingress and egress of liquids or             solids into the central cavity 111;     -   the sidewall 109 including a pair of parallel grooves 930, 940         (also referred to as left and right front vertical indentations         930, 940) inset within the circumference of the substantially         cylindrical sidewall 109, which extend longitudinally from the         hollow body's bottom 107 to the tapered neck 113, the pair of         grooves 930, 940 forming a longitudinally extending projection         126 (also referred to as a vertical bottle locking protrusion         126) between the grooves 930, 940 which extends from the hollow         body's bottom 107 to the hollow body's tapered neck 113, wherein         the projection 126 radially tapers to form a tapered rounded         edge 121;     -   the sidewall 109 further including a longitudinally extending         channel 224 (also referred to as the vertical bottle locking         indentation 224) located diametrically opposed to the         longitudinally extending projection 126, the channel 224         extending from the hollow body's bottom to the hollow body's         tapered neck 113 with the channel's depth diminishing in a         tapered manner adjacent to the tapered neck 113 to form a         tapered rounded shelf 227, which is substantially parallel and         diametrically opposed to the projection's tapered rounded edge         121; and     -   the projection 126 and the channel 224 are sized and configured         so that the projection 126 could be received within a channel of         another like connectable beverage bottle so as to connect and         affix to another like connectable beverage bottle.

In a related embodiment, the connectable beverage bottle 100 can be further configured such that:

-   -   a) the projection's 126 tapered edge 121 and the channel's         tapered shelf 227 permit the projection 126 to be inserted into         a channel of a like connectable bottle at the hollow body's         bottom, but not at the hollow body's top; and     -   b) the projection 126 and the channel are sized and configured         so that once the projection 126 is inserted into a channel of a         like connectable bottle, the projection 126 is slidable within         the channel until the projection's tapered edge 121 would engage         the channel's tapered shelf 227 so as to prevent further         movement or disengagement.

Thus, in an embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1-2, 9A-9B, and 16 , a connectable beverage bottle 100 can include:

-   -   a) a hollow bottle body 103, including:         -   i. a central cavity 111;         -   ii. a bottle top 105, including a bottle opening 115, such             that the bottle opening 115 provides access to the central             cavity 111;         -   iii. a sidewall 109, which forms the central cavity, wherein             the sidewall 109 comprises:             -   1. a vertical bottle locking protrusion 126, which is                 positioned on a first side of the sidewall 109; and             -   2. a vertical bottle locking indentation 224, which is                 positioned on a second side of the sidewall 109, such                 that the vertical bottle locking indentation 224 is                 opposedly positioned relative to the vertical bottle                 locking protrusion 126;         -   such that the vertical bottle locking protrusion 126 is             configured to be slidable into a corresponding bottle             locking indentation of a first like connectable beverage             bottle 100, 1601, such that the connectable beverage bottle             100, 1602 is connected to the first like connectable             beverage bottle 100, 1601; and         -   such that the vertical bottle locking indentation 224 is             configured to slidably receive a corresponding bottle             locking protrusion 126 of a second like connectable beverage             bottle 100, 1603, such that the connectable beverage bottle             100, 1602 is connected to the second like connectable             beverage bottle 100, 1603.

In a related embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , the hollow bottle body can further include:

-   -   a) an upper screw portion 512; and     -   b) a main portion 514, which is below the upper screw portion         512;     -   wherein the main portion 514 can be left-right mirror         symmetrical relative to a front-rear vertical center plane 520         of the hollow bottle body 103.

In another related embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9A-9B and 10 , the connectable beverage bottle 100 can be configured with various features, to enable manufacturability and detachable connectability, such that:

-   -   a) a horizontal overhang 913 of the vertical bottle locking         indentation 224, from a bottom outer edge 912 of the vertical         bottle locking indentation 224 to a top outer edge of the         vertical bottle locking indentation 224, which is in a range of         5-30% or 10-25% of a maximum depth 919 of the vertical bottle         locking indentation 224, such that the limited range of the         horizontal overhang 913 enables manufacturability of the         connectable beverage bottle 100;     -   b) a maximum protrusion width 1027 of the vertical bottle         locking protrusion 126 can be in range of 25%-35% of a maximum         bottle width 1056 of the hollow body 103;     -   c) a left front vertical indentation 930 on a left side of the         vertical bottle locking protrusion 126, wherein the left front         vertical indentation 930 is configured with a concave left inner         surface, such that a left opening angle 938, between an inner         left tangent line 934 of an inner end of the concave left inner         surface (in an inner left transition 11 point at an inner end of         the concave left inner surface, where the concave inner surface         connects with an inner convex left surface) and an outer left         tangent line 932 of an outer end of the concave left inner         surface (in an outer left transition point 12 at an outer end of         the concave left inner surface, where the concave inner surface         connects with an outer convex left surface), is substantially 30         degrees (i.e. about 30 degrees subject to manufacturing         tolerances) or in a range of 25-35 degrees, or in a range of         20-40 degrees;     -   d) a left outward inclination angle 937, between a longitudinal         center line 935 of the bottle body and the inner left tangent         line 934 of the inner end of the concave left inner surface, is         substantially 25 degrees (i.e., about 25 degrees subject to         manufacturing tolerances) or in a range of 20-30 degrees;     -   e) a maximum left opening width 936 of the left front vertical         indentation 930 between the outer left transition point and the         inner left transition point can be in range of 70-90% or 75-85%         of a maximum protrusion width 1027 of the vertical bottle         locking protrusion 126;     -   f) a right front vertical indentation 940 on a right side of the         vertical bottle locking protrusion 926, wherein the right front         vertical indentation 940 is configured with a concave right         inner surface, such that a right opening angle 938, between an         inner right tangent line 944 of an inner end of the concave         right inner surface (in an inner right transition point 21 at an         inner end of the concave right inner surface, where the concave         inner surface connects with an inner convex right surface) and         an outer right tangent line 942 of an outer end of the concave         left inner surface (in an outer right transition point 22 at an         outer end of the concave right inner surface, where the concave         inner surface connects with an outer convex right surface), is         substantially 30 degrees (i.e. about 30 degrees subject to         manufacturing tolerances) or in a range of 25-35 degrees, or in         a range of 20-40 degrees;     -   g) a right outward inclination angle 947, between the         longitudinal center line 935 of the bottle body 103 and the         inner right tangent line 944 of the inner end of the concave         right inner surface, is substantially 25 degrees (i.e., about 25         degrees subject to manufacturing tolerances) or in a range of         20-30 degrees; and     -   h) a maximum right opening width 946 of the right front vertical         indentation 940 between the outer right transition point and the         inner right transition point can be substantially 80% (i.e.,         about 80% subject to manufacturing tolerances), or in range of         70-90% or 75-85% of a maximum protrusion width 1027 of the         vertical bottle locking protrusion 126.

In a further related embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 9A, the vertical bottle locking indentation 224 can be configured with an upper rounded indentation bulge 227 (which can also be referred to as a tapered rounded shelf 227), which is positioned in an upper part of the vertical bottle locking indentation 224, such that the upper rounded indentation bulge 227 forms the horizontal overhang 913.

In a related embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9A-9B, a bottom 107 of the hollow bottle body 103, can further include:

-   -   a) a flat portion 962; and     -   b) a central indentation 964, which is configured with a         laterally elongated shape and is mirror symmetric relative to         the longitudinal center line 935 of the bottle body 103, wherein         a periphery of the central indentation comprises:         -   i. a left front concave edge portion 42;         -   ii. a right front concave edge portion 46;         -   iii. a center front convex edge portion 44, which is             positioned between the left front concave edge portion 42             and the right front concave edge portion 46;         -   iv. a left rear concave edge portion 52;         -   v. a right rear concave edge portion 56;         -   vi. a center rear convex edge portion 54, which is             positioned between the left rear concave edge portion 52 and             the right rear concave edge portion 56;         -   vii. a left side convex edge portion 62, which is positioned             between the left rear concave edge portion 52 and the left             front concave edge portion 42; and         -   viii. a right side convex edge portion 64, which is             positioned between the right rear concave edge portion 56             and the right front concave edge portion 46;             -   such that an alternating pattern of concave edge                 portions 42, 46, 56, 58 and convex edge portions 44, 62,                 54, 62 is formed along the laterally elongated shape of                 the periphery of the central indentation 964, which                 increase a torsional stiffness of the hollow bottle body                 103, to create a sufficient torsional rigidity of the                 hollow bottle body 103 to aid in manufacturability of                 the connectable beverage bottle 100, particularly to                 ensure swift and frictionless extraction of the                 connectable beverage bottle 100 from molding components.

In another related embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, the hollow bottle body 103 can further be configured such that:

-   -   a) the vertical bottle locking protrusion 126 can further be         configured with         -   i. an outward-curving left vertical bulge 1830 positioned on             a lower outer left surface of the vertical bottle locking             protrusion 126; such that the outward-curving left vertical             bulge 1830 tapers (i.e. fades or recedes) from a left             maximum bulge point 1832 of a left lower edge of the             vertical bottle locking protrusion 126 to an upper left             bulge transition point 1834, wherein the outward-curving             left vertical bulge 1830 vanishes and the vertical bottle             locking protrusion 126 becomes substantially straight;         -   ii. an outward-curving right vertical bulge 1840 positioned             on a lower outer right surface of the vertical bottle             locking protrusion 126, such that the outward-curving right             vertical bulge 1840 tapers (i.e. fades or recedes) from a             right maximum bulge point 1842 of a right lower edge of the             vertical bottle locking protrusion 126 to an upper right             bulge transition point 1844, wherein the outward-curving             right vertical bulge 1840 vanishes and the vertical bottle             locking protrusion 126 becomes substantially straight; and     -   b) the vertical bottle locking indentation 224 can further be         configured with         -   i. an inward-curving left vertical indentation 1850             positioned on a lower outer left surface of the vertical             bottle locking indentation 224;             -   such that the inward-curving left vertical indentation                 1850 tapers (i.e. fades or recedes) from a left maximum                 indentation 1852 of a left lower edge of the vertical                 bottle locking indentation 224 to an upper left                 indentation transition point 1854, wherein the                 inward-curving left vertical indentation 1850 vanishes                 and the vertical bottle locking indentation 224 becomes                 substantially straight;         -   ii. an inward-curving right vertical indentation 1860             positioned on a lower outer right surface of the vertical             bottle locking indentation 224,             -   such that the inward-curving right vertical indentation                 1860 tapers (i.e. fades or recedes) from a right maximum                 indentation point 1862 of a right lower edge of the                 vertical bottle locking indentation 224 to an upper                 right indentation transition point 1864, wherein the                 inward-curving right vertical indentation 1860 vanishes                 and the vertical bottle locking indentation 224 becomes                 substantially straight;     -   such that the inward-curving left vertical indentation 1850 is         configured to receive the outward-curving left vertical bulge         1830;     -   such that the inward-curving right vertical indentation 1860 is         configured to receive the outward-curving right vertical bulge         1840;     -   such that a lower portion of the vertical bottle locking         protrusion 126 is detachably locked in place inside a lower         portion of the vertical bottle locking indentation 224;     -   such that the vertical bottle locking protrusion 126 is         configured to be vertically slidable 1612 into a bottom of the         corresponding bottle locking indentation 224 of the first like         connectable beverage bottle 100, 1601.

In a related embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9A-9B and 10 , a left maximum lateral bulge depth 973 of the outward-curving left vertical bulge 1830, between a lower left bulge maximum point 972 and a lower left bulge minimum point 974, can be in a range of 5-10% of a maximum protrusion width 1027 of the vertical bottle locking protrusion 126; and a right maximum lateral bulge depth 977 of the outward-curving right vertical bulge 1840, between a lower right bulge maximum point 976 and a lower right bulge minimum point 978, can be in a range of 5-10% of a maximum protrusion width 1027 of the vertical bottle locking protrusion 126.

In a related embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9A-9B and 10 , a left maximum lateral indentation depth 983 of the inward-curving left vertical indentation 1850, between a lower left indentation maximum point 982 and a lower left indentation minimum point 984, can be in a range of 5-10% of a maximum indentation width 925 of the vertical bottle locking indentation 224; and a right maximum lateral indentation depth 987 of the inward-curving right vertical indentation 1860, between a lower right indentation maximum point 986 and a lower right indentation minimum point 988, can be in a range of 5-10% of a maximum indentation width 925 of the vertical bottle locking indentation 224.

In a related embodiment, the hollow bottle body 103 can be made from a sufficiently flexible material, such as a sufficiently flexible plastic material (with an appropriate wall thickness), such that limited ranges of the left and right maximum lateral bulge depths 973, 977 and the left and right maximum lateral indentation depth 983, 987, ensure that the vertical bottle locking protrusion 126 is laterally slidable 1614 into the corresponding bottle locking indentation 224 of the first like connectable beverage bottle, wherein the outward-curving left vertical bulges 1830, 1840 snap in place inside the inward-curving left and right vertical indentations 1850, 1860, such that the vertical bottle locking protrusion 126 snaps in place inside the vertical bottle locking indentation 224 (with a slight deformation of the vertical bottle locking protrusion 126 and the vertical bottle locking indentation 224 during the lateral sliding process).

Thus, in a related embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3-4, 16A, 16B, 16C, and 17 , a lower locking protrusion portion 327 of the vertical bottle locking protrusion 126 can be configured to be upward vertically slidable 1612 and laterally slidable 1614 into a lower locking indentation portion 428 of a corresponding vertical bottle locking indentation 224, such that that the lower portion 327 of the vertical bottle locking protrusion 126 is detachably interlocked with the corresponding vertical bottle locking indentation 224.

In a further related embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3-4, 7, 16A, 16B, 16C, and 17, a first height 328 of a lower locking protrusion portion 327 (between the uniform horizontal levels 322, 324 of lower maximum bulge points 1832, 1842 and upper bulge transition points 1834, 1844) of the vertical bottle locking protrusion 126 and a second height 428 of a lower locking indentation portion 427 (between uniform horizontal levels 422, 424 of lower maximum indentation points 1852, 1862 and upper indention transition points 1854, 1864) of the corresponding vertical bottle locking indentation 224, can each be of a uniform height (i.e., the same height) and each can be in range of 20-60%, 30-50%, 35-45%, or 40%-48% of a bottle height 710 of the bottle body 103 of the connectable beverage bottle 100.

Thus, in a yet further related embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3-4, 7, 16A, 16B, 16C, and 17 , the hollow bottle body 103 can further include:

-   -   a) a lower locking protrusion portion 327 of the vertical bottle         locking protrusion 126, wherein the lower locking protrusion         portion 327 is positioned between uniform lower bulge horizontal         levels 322 of left and right lower maximum bulge points 1832,         1842 and uniform upper bulge horizontal levels 324 of left and         right upper bulge transition points 1834, 1844; and     -   b) a lower locking indentation portion 427 of the vertical         bottle locking indentation 224, wherein the lower locking         indentation portion 427 is positioned between uniform lower         indentation horizontal levels 422 of left and right lower         maximum indentation points 1852, 1862 and uniform upper         indentation horizontal levels 424 of left and right upper         indentation transition points 1854, 1864;     -   wherein a first height 328 of the lower locking protrusion         portion 327 of the vertical bottle locking protrusion 126 and a         second height 428 of the lower locking indentation portion 427         of the vertical bottle locking indentation 224, are each of a         uniform height 328, 428, which is in range of 30-50% of a bottle         height 710 of the hollow bottle body 103.

In a related embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13 , an interlocked combination of connectable beverage bottles 100 can include:

-   -   a) a first connectable beverage bottle 100, 1601, which can         include:         -   i. a hollow body 103 including a top, a bottom and a             substantially cylindrical sidewall 109 which form a central             cavity, the sidewall 109 tapering inward adjacent to the             hollow body's top to form a tapered neck 113 which             terminates at an opening for the ingress and egress of             liquids or solids into the central cavity; wherein:             -   1. the sidewall 109 including a pair of parallel grooves                 930, 940 inset within the circumference of the                 substantially cylindrical sidewall which extend                 longitudinally from the hollow body's bottom to the                 tapered neck 113, the pair of grooves 930, 940 forming a                 longitudinally extending projection 126 between the                 grooves 930, 940 which extends from the hollow body's                 bottom to the hollow body's tapered neck 113 wherein the                 projection 126 radially tapers to form a tapered rounded                 edge 121;             -   2. the sidewall 109 further including a longitudinally                 extending channel located diametrically opposed to the                 longitudinally extending projection 126, the channel                 extending from the hollow body's bottom to the hollow                 body's tapered neck 113 with the channel's depth                 diminishing in a tapered manner adjacent to the tapered                 neck 113 to form a tapered rounded shelf 227 which is                 substantially parallel and diametrically opposed to the                 projection's 126 tapered rounded edge 121; and     -   b) a second connectable beverage bottle 100, 1602, which can         include:         -   i. a hollow body 103 including a top, a bottom and a             substantially cylindrical sidewall 109 which form a central             cavity, the sidewall 109 tapering inward adjacent to the             hollow body's top to form a tapered neck 113 which             terminates at an opening for the ingress and egress of             liquids or solids into the central cavity; wherein:             -   1. the sidewall 109 including a pair of parallel grooves                 930, 940 inset within the circumference of the                 substantially cylindrical sidewall 109 which extend                 longitudinally from the hollow body's bottom to the                 tapered neck 113, the pair of grooves 930, 940 forming a                 longitudinally extending projection 126 between the                 grooves 930, 940 which extends from the hollow body's                 bottom to the hollow body's tapered neck 113 wherein the                 projection 126 radially tapers to form a tapered rounded                 edge 121;             -   2. the sidewall 109 further including a longitudinally                 extending channel located diametrically opposed to the                 longitudinally extending projection 126, the channel                 extending from the hollow body's bottom to the hollow                 body's tapered neck 113 with the channel's depth                 diminishing in a tapered manner adjacent to the tapered                 neck 113 to form a tapered rounded shelf 227 which is                 substantially parallel and diametrically opposed to the                 projection's 126 tapered rounded edge 121; and             -   3. the first bottle's projection 126 sized and                 configured to have the same shape as the channel so as                 to be received within the second bottle's channel so as                 to connect and affix to the first bottle to the second                 bottle; and     -   c) a third connectable beverage bottle 100, 1603, which is         connected to the second connectable beverage bottle 100, 1602.

Here has thus been described a multitude of embodiments of the connectable beverage bottle 100, and methods related thereto, which can be employed in numerous modes of usage.

The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention, which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Many such alternative configurations are readily apparent and should be considered fully included in this specification and the claims appended hereto. Accordingly, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, the invention is not limited to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and thus, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A connectable beverage bottle, comprising: a hollow bottle body, comprising: a central cavity; and a bottle top, including a bottle opening, such that the bottle opening provides access to the central cavity; a sidewall, which forms the central cavity, wherein the sidewall comprises: a vertical bottle locking protrusion, which is positioned on a first side of the sidewall; and a vertical bottle locking indentation, which is positioned on a second side of the sidewall, such that the vertical bottle locking indentation is opposedly positioned relative to the vertical bottle locking protrusion; such that the vertical bottle locking protrusion is configured to be slidable into a corresponding bottle locking indentation of a first like connectable beverage bottle, such that the connectable beverage bottle is connected to the first like connectable beverage bottle; and such that the vertical bottle locking indentation is configured to slidably receive a corresponding bottle locking protrusion of a second like connectable beverage bottle, such that the connectable beverage bottle is connected to the second like connectable beverage bottle.
 2. The connectable beverage bottle of claim 1, wherein the vertical bottle locking indentation is configured with a horizontal overhang from a bottom outer edge of the vertical bottle locking indentation to a top outer edge of the vertical bottle locking indentation.
 3. The connectable beverage bottle of claim 2, wherein the horizontal overhang is in a range of 10-25% of a maximum depth of the vertical bottle locking indentation.
 4. The connectable beverage bottle of claim 2, wherein the vertical bottle locking indentation is configured with an upper rounded indentation bulge in an upper part of the vertical bottle locking indentation, such that the upper rounded indentation bulge forms the horizontal overhang.
 5. The connectable beverage bottle of claim 1, wherein a maximum protrusion width of the vertical bottle locking protrusion is in range of 25%-35% of a maximum bottle width of the hollow bottle body.
 6. The connectable beverage bottle of claim 1, wherein the hollow bottle body further comprises: a) a left front vertical indentation on a left side of the vertical bottle locking protrusion, wherein the left front vertical indentation is configured with a concave left inner surface; and b) a right front vertical indentation on a right side of the vertical bottle locking protrusion, wherein the right front vertical indentation is configured with a concave right inner surface.
 7. The connectable beverage bottle of claim 6, wherein a left opening angle, between an inner left tangent line of an inner end of the concave left inner surface and an outer left tangent line of an outer end of the concave left inner surface, is in a range of 35-45 degrees; and wherein a right opening angle, between an inner right tangent line of an inner end of the concave right inner surface and an outer right tangent line of an outer end of the concave left inner surface, is in a range of 35-45 degrees.
 8. The connectable beverage bottle of claim 7, wherein a left outward inclination angle, between a longitudinal center line of the hollow bottle body and the inner left tangent line of the inner end of the concave left inner surface, is in a range of 20-30 degrees; and wherein a right outward inclination angle, between the longitudinal center line of the hollow bottle body and the inner right tangent line of the inner end of the concave right inner surface, is in a range of 20-30 degrees.
 9. The connectable beverage bottle of claim 8, wherein the left opening angle and the right opening angle are each substantially 30 degrees; and wherein the left outward inclination angle and the right outward inclination angle are each substantially 25 degrees.
 10. The connectable beverage bottle of claim 7, wherein a maximum left opening width of the left front vertical indentation, between an outer left transition point at an outer end of the concave left inner surface and an inner left transition point at an inner end of the concave left inner surface, is in range of 75-85% of a maximum protrusion width of the vertical bottle locking protrusion; and wherein a maximum right opening width of the right front vertical indentation between an outer right transition point at an outer end of the concave right inner surface and an inner right transition point at an inner end of the concave right inner surface, is in range of 75-85% of the maximum protrusion width of the vertical bottle locking protrusion.
 11. The connectable beverage bottle of claim 10, wherein the maximum left opening width and the maximum right opening width are each substantially 80% of the maximum protrusion width of the vertical bottle locking protrusion.
 12. The connectable beverage bottle of claim 1, wherein a bottom of the hollow bottle body further comprises: a) a flat portion; and b) a central indentation, which is configured with a laterally elongated shape and is mirror symmetric relative to a longitudinal center line of the hollow bottle body.
 13. The connectable beverage bottle of claim 12, wherein the central indentation further comprises: an alternating pattern of concave edge portions and convex edge portions along a periphery of the central indentation, such that the alternating pattern of concave edge portions increase a torsional stiffness of the hollow bottle body.
 14. The connectable beverage bottle of claim 13, wherein the alternating pattern of concave edge portions and convex edge portions further comprises: a) a left front concave edge portion; b) a right front concave edge portion; c) a center front convex edge portion, which is positioned between the left front concave edge portion and the right front concave edge portion; d) a left rear concave edge portion; e) a right rear concave edge portion; f) a center rear convex edge portion, which is positioned between the left rear concave edge portion and the right rear concave edge portion; g) a left side convex edge portion, which is positioned between the left rear concave edge portion and the left front concave edge portion; and h) a right side convex edge portion, which is positioned between the right rear concave edge portion and the right front concave edge portion.
 15. The connectable beverage bottle of claim 1, wherein the vertical bottle locking protrusion further comprises: an outward-curving left vertical bulge positioned on a lower outer left surface of the vertical bottle locking protrusion; such that the outward-curving left vertical bulge is configured to taper from a left maximum bulge point of a left lower edge of the vertical bottle locking protrusion to an upper left bulge transition point, wherein the outward-curving left vertical bulge vanishes; an outward-curving right vertical bulge positioned on a lower outer right surface of the vertical bottle locking protrusion, such that the outward-curving right vertical bulge is configured to taper from a right maximum bulge point of a right lower edge of the vertical bottle locking protrusion to an upper right bulge transition point, wherein the outward-curving right vertical bulge vanishes and the vertical bottle locking protrusion becomes substantially straight; and wherein the vertical bottle locking indentation further comprises: an inward-curving left vertical indentation positioned on a lower outer left surface of the vertical bottle locking indentation; such that the inward-curving left vertical indentation is configured to taper from a left maximum indentation of a left lower edge of the vertical bottle locking indentation to an upper left indentation transition point, wherein the inward-curving left vertical indentation vanishes; an inward-curving right vertical indentation positioned on a lower outer right surface of the vertical bottle locking indentation, such that the inward-curving right vertical indentation is configured to taper from a right maximum indentation of a right lower edge of the vertical bottle locking indentation to an upper right indentation transition point, wherein the inward-curving right vertical indentation vanishes; such that the inward-curving left vertical indentation is configured to receive the outward-curving left vertical bulge; such that the inward-curving right vertical indentation is configured to receive the outward-curving right vertical bulge; and such that a lower portion of the vertical bottle locking protrusion is detachably locked in place inside a lower portion of the vertical bottle locking indentation; such that the vertical bottle locking protrusion is configured to be vertically slidable into the corresponding bottle locking indentation of the first like connectable beverage bottle.
 16. The connectable beverage bottle of claim 15, wherein a left maximum lateral bulge depth of the outward-curving left vertical bulge, between a lower left bulge maximum point and a lower left bulge minimum point, is in a range of 5-10% of a maximum protrusion width of the vertical bottle locking protrusion; and a right maximum lateral bulge depth of the outward-curving right vertical bulge, between a lower right bulge maximum point and a lower right bulge minimum point, is in a range of 5-10% of a maximum protrusion width of the vertical bottle locking protrusion.
 17. The connectable beverage bottle of claim 16, wherein a left maximum lateral indentation depth of the inward-curving left vertical indentation, between a lower left indentation maximum point and a lower left indentation minimum point, is in a range of 5-10% of a maximum indentation width of the vertical bottle locking indentation; and a right maximum lateral indentation depth of the inward-curving right vertical indentation, between a lower right indentation maximum point and a lower right indentation minimum point, is in a range of 5-10% of a maximum indentation width of the vertical bottle locking indentation.
 18. The connectable beverage bottle of claim 17, wherein the hollow bottle body is made from a flexible material, such that the vertical bottle locking protrusion is laterally slidable into the corresponding bottle locking indentation of the first like connectable beverage bottle.
 19. The connectable beverage bottle of claim 15, wherein the hollow bottle body further comprises: c) a lower locking protrusion portion of the vertical bottle locking protrusion, wherein the lower locking protrusion portion is positioned between uniform lower bulge horizontal levels of left and right lower maximum bulge points and uniform upper bulge horizontal levels of left and right upper bulge transition points; and d) a lower locking indentation portion of the vertical bottle locking indentation, wherein the lower locking indentation portion is positioned between uniform lower indentation horizontal levels of left and right lower maximum indentation points and uniform upper indentation horizontal levels of left and right upper indentation transition points; wherein a first height of the lower locking protrusion portion of the vertical bottle locking protrusion and a second height of the lower locking indentation portion of the vertical bottle locking indentation, are each of a uniform height, which is in range of 30-50% of a bottle height of the hollow bottle body.
 20. The connectable beverage bottle of claim 1, wherein the hollow bottle body further comprises: a) an upper screw portion; and b) a main portion, which is below the upper screw portion; wherein the main portion is left-right mirror symmetrical relative to a front-rear vertical center plane of the hollow bottle body.
 21. A connectable beverage bottle, comprising: a) a central cavity; and b) a sidewall, which comprises: a vertical bottle locking protrusion; and a vertical bottle locking indentation; such that the vertical bottle locking protrusion is configured to be slidable into a corresponding bottle locking indentation of a first like connectable beverage bottle, such that the connectable beverage bottle is connected to the first like connectable beverage bottle; and such that the vertical bottle locking indentation is configured to slidably receive a corresponding bottle locking protrusion of a second like connectable beverage bottle, such that the connectable beverage bottle is connected to the second like connectable beverage bottle.
 22. The connectable beverage bottle of claim 21, wherein the vertical bottle locking indentation is configured with a horizontal overhang from a bottom outer edge of the vertical bottle locking indentation to a top outer edge of the vertical bottle locking indentation.
 23. The connectable beverage bottle of claim 22, wherein the horizontal overhang is in a range of 10-25% of a maximum depth of the vertical bottle locking indentation.
 24. The connectable beverage bottle of claim 21, wherein a maximum protrusion width of the vertical bottle locking protrusion is in range of 25%-35% of a maximum bottle width of the connectable beverage bottle.
 25. The connectable beverage bottle of claim 21, wherein the connectable beverage bottle further comprises: a) a left front vertical indentation on a left side of the vertical bottle locking protrusion, wherein the left front vertical indentation is configured with a concave left inner surface; and b) a right front vertical indentation on a right side of the vertical bottle locking protrusion, wherein the right front vertical indentation is configured with a concave right inner surface.
 26. The connectable beverage bottle of claim 25, wherein a left opening angle, between an inner left tangent line of an inner end of the concave left inner surface and an outer left tangent line of an outer end of the concave left inner surface, is in a range of 35-45 degrees; and wherein a right opening angle, between an inner right tangent line of an inner end of the concave right inner surface and an outer right tangent line of an outer end of the concave left inner surface, is in a range of 35-45 degrees.
 27. The connectable beverage bottle of claim 26, wherein a left outward inclination angle, between a longitudinal center line of the connectable beverage bottle and the inner left tangent line of the inner end of the concave left inner surface, is in a range of 20-30 degrees; and wherein a right outward inclination angle, between the longitudinal center line of the connectable beverage bottle and the inner right tangent line of the inner end of the concave right inner surface, is in a range of 20-30 degrees.
 28. The connectable beverage bottle of claim 27, wherein a maximum left opening width of the left front vertical indentation, between an outer left transition point at an outer end of the concave left inner surface and an inner left transition point at an inner end of the concave left inner surface, is in range of 75-85% of a maximum protrusion width of the vertical bottle locking protrusion; and wherein a maximum right opening width of the right front vertical indentation between an outer right transition point at an outer end of the concave right inner surface and an inner right transition point at an inner end of the concave right inner surface, is in range of 75-85% of the maximum protrusion width of the vertical bottle locking protrusion.
 29. The connectable beverage bottle of claim 21, wherein a bottom of the connectable beverage bottle further comprises: a) a flat portion; and b) a central indentation, which is configured with a laterally elongated shape and is mirror symmetric relative to a longitudinal center line of the connectable beverage bottle, wherein the central indentation further comprises: an alternating pattern of concave edge portions and convex edge portions along a periphery of the central indentation, such that the alternating pattern of concave edge portions increase a torsional stiffness of the connectable beverage bottle.
 30. The connectable beverage bottle of claim 21, wherein the vertical bottle locking protrusion further comprises: an outward-curving left vertical bulge positioned on a lower outer left surface of the vertical bottle locking protrusion; such that the outward-curving left vertical bulge is configured to taper from a left maximum bulge point of a left lower edge of the vertical bottle locking protrusion to an upper left bulge transition point, wherein the outward-curving left vertical bulge vanishes; an outward-curving right vertical bulge positioned on a lower outer right surface of the vertical bottle locking protrusion, such that the outward-curving right vertical bulge is configured to taper from a right maximum bulge point of a right lower edge of the vertical bottle locking protrusion to an upper right bulge transition point, wherein the outward-curving right vertical bulge vanishes and the vertical bottle locking protrusion becomes substantially straight; and wherein the vertical bottle locking indentation further comprises: an inward-curving left vertical indentation positioned on a lower outer left surface of the vertical bottle locking indentation; such that the inward-curving left vertical indentation is configured to taper from a left maximum indentation of a left lower edge of the vertical bottle locking indentation to an upper left indentation transition point, wherein the inward-curving left vertical indentation vanishes; an inward-curving right vertical indentation positioned on a lower outer right surface of the vertical bottle locking indentation, such that the inward-curving right vertical indentation is configured to taper from a right maximum indentation of a right lower edge of the vertical bottle locking indentation to an upper right indentation transition point, wherein the inward-curving right vertical indentation vanishes; such that the inward-curving left vertical indentation is configured to receive the outward-curving left vertical bulge; such that the inward-curving right vertical indentation is configured to receive the outward-curving right vertical bulge; and such that a lower portion of the vertical bottle locking protrusion is detachably locked in place inside a lower portion of the vertical bottle locking indentation; such that the vertical bottle locking protrusion is configured to be vertically slidable into the corresponding bottle locking indentation of the first like connectable beverage bottle; wherein a left maximum lateral bulge depth of the outward-curving left vertical bulge, between a lower left bulge maximum point and a lower left bulge minimum point, is in a range of 5-10% of a maximum protrusion width of the vertical bottle locking protrusion; and a right maximum lateral bulge depth of the outward-curving right vertical bulge, between a lower right bulge maximum point and a lower right bulge minimum point, is in a range of 5-10% of a maximum protrusion width of the vertical bottle locking protrusion; and wherein a left maximum lateral indentation depth of the inward-curving left vertical indentation, between a lower left indentation maximum point and a lower left indentation minimum point, is in a range of 5-10% of a maximum indentation width of the vertical bottle locking indentation; and a right maximum lateral indentation depth of the inward-curving right vertical indentation, between a lower right indentation maximum point and a lower right indentation minimum point, is in a range of 5-10% of a maximum indentation width of the vertical bottle locking indentation; wherein the connectable beverage bottle is made from a flexible material, such that the vertical bottle locking protrusion is laterally slidable into the corresponding bottle locking indentation of the first like connectable beverage bottle. 